New date confirmed for Cancer Research UK's Race for Life in Leeds

The charity has postponed Race for Life events this spring and summer across the UK to protect the country’s health during the coronavirus outbreak.

This includes the Race for Life 5K, 10k and Pretty Muddy events at Temple Newsam Park, Leeds which can no longer take place on Sunday, May 31.

But everyone across Leeds can once again be part of the empowering Race for Life movement and show support to the 30,500 people diagnosed with cancer every year in Yorkshire and The Humber.

The Race for Life Leeds 5K, 10K and Pretty Muddy events have been rescheduled for Sunday September 27.

Participants who had already signed up for the Race for Life event in May can transfer their entry to the new September date. Entries are also open for more people to join at raceforlife.org

Kay Pratchett, Cancer Research UK Event Manager for Leeds, said: “We’re sending a heartfelt message to everyone to seize the opportunity and come join us to Race for Life in Leeds this September at Temple Newsam Park.

“As the coronavirus outbreak continues to unfold, we are listening to the advice and guidance of the UK Government carefully.

“While our priority is ensuring that people affected by cancer get the support and information they need during unprecedented times, we’re having to work quickly to understand the impact the pandemic will have on Cancer Research UK’s fundraising.

“We have urgently reviewed our events, including Race for Life. As the safety of our supporters, volunteers, suppliers and staff across the hundreds of Race for Life events due to take place in 2020 is incredibly important we have made the decision to postpone the events scheduled in May, June and July including Race for Life Leeds this May.

“We hope men, women and children will unite against cancer and make Race for Life Leeds the best yet this Autumn, or the other rescheduled Race for Life events in West Yorkshire, including Bradford on September 19, Huddersfield on September 13 and Wakefield on October 3. Together we can beat cancer."

She added: “Since it began, Race for Life has raised over £890m for Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has taken part and hope their support will continue throughout this time.”

Every hour three people are diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire and The Humber* But the good news is more people are surviving the disease now than ever before. Cancer survival in the UK has doubled since the early 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.

Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work relies entirely on the public’s generous support. The charity was able to spend over £4 million last year in Yorkshire on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research. Now many of the scientists and researchers funded by Cancer Research UK are currently being redeployed to help in the fight against Covid-19, including assisting with testing for the virus. By helping to beat coronavirus, the charity can lessen the impact that this virus is having on the care of cancer patients.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring series of 5k, 10k and Pretty Muddy events which raise millions of pounds every year to find new ways to tackle cancer.

Money raised through Race for Life helps to make long-term research and pioneering trials possible, leading to new tests and kinder treatments, which could save the lives of more men, women and children across Yorkshire.

For more information, visit: raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.